Okinawan Sword-tailed newt – Endangered species by Shawn Miller

The Okinawan Sword-tailed newt (Cynops ensicauda popei) is an endangered species found on the main islands of Okinawa an Amami. It is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to deforestation and road kill.

  • Scientific name: Cynops ensicauda popei
  • Distribution: Okinawa and Anami Islands
  • Habitat: Forests, wetlands and freshwater streams
  • Diet: Amphibian eggs, tadpoles, snails, worms and insects
  • Average size: 100-180mm
Sword tailed newt with stripes

Sword tailed newt with stripes

They all have bright orange bellies, which serve as a warning sign to predators that they are poisonous. When threatened they produce a transparent skin toxin.

  •  Poisonous animals are toxic if you eat them or ingest their secretions.  Irritations may occur after handling these newts if you have open wounds. Avoid rubbing your eyes or placing your hands in your mouth.

The newt photographed in its natural habitat.

Sword-tailed newt in natural habitat

Sword-tailed newt in natural habitat

The aquatic stage of the newt has external gills. Photographed on Amami Island

Juvenile Cynops  ensicauda ensicauda -Amami Island

Juvenile Cynops ensicauda ensicauda -Amami Island

Sword tailed newt

Sword tailed newt -Onna village

Sword tailed newt

Sword tailed newt – Onna village

Sword tailed newt  Sword tailed newt

Sword tailed newt -yanbaru forest

An average looking sword-tailed newt with a blood sucking leech

Sword-tailed newt with leech

Sword-tailed newt with leech

The Sword- tailed newt is often found crossing the road on rainy days in northern Okinawa.

 Crossing  the road

Newt crossing

The government has designed specialized wildlife steps for animals that get trapped in roadside drainage ditches. These steps allow the newts to crawl out safely.

Wildlife steps

Wildlife steps

Please pay attention to crossing wildlife

Road kill- Sword tailed newt  Sword tailed newt

Road kill- Sword tailed newt Sword tailed newt

If you like newts, you have to check out the coolest newt on the planet,  Anderson’s crocodile newt.

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.